Device for inspecting tires



Sept. 18, 1926.

M. TEICH DEVICE FOR INSPECTING TIRES Filed March 15, 1927 2 Sheet-Sheet1 INVENTOR MAz/relos TEICH BY W a- ATTORNEY Sept. 18, 1928 1,685,038 M.TEICH DEVICE FOR INSPECTING TIRES Filed March 15, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2T1 2, #26 5/ J5 Fig. :1.

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ATTORNEY M uRlc'a Zia/cw Patented Sept. 18, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

MAURICE TEICH, OF PEEKSKILL, NEW YORK.

DEVICE FOR INSPECTING TIRES.

Application filed March 15, 1927. Serial No. 175,588.

This invention relates to devices particu larly adapted for inspectingtires or tire casings.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of adevice characterized by improved features of construction and operationfor facilitating the handling of tires and outer tire casings or shoes,when it is desired to inspect the exterior surfaces of lo the tires andcasings, and particularly for inspecting. the interior surfaces of tirecasings, to detect punctures, cuts and other imperfections.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention resides inthe particular revision, relative disposition, and functions of theparts hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, 1n

which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device embodying thefeatures of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view substantially on the line 22of 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Broadly stated, the device of the present invention consists of a framestructure, means on the frame structure for supporting the tire or tirecasing for turning movement, gripping means particularly adapted forgripping the sides of a tire casing, means for actuating the grippingmeans to spread apart the sides of the tire casing from the normalrelationship so that the interior portions of the tire casing may beconveniently and thoroughly inspected, means operable for releasablymaintainin the gripping means and therefore the si es of the tirecasing'in a spread apart condition or relationship, and means forlighting the interior portlon of the tire casing at the point where itis spread apart.

The frame structure includes legs or members 10. Each of the members 10is in the form of an angle iron. Each of the members 10 has an attachingportionll adapted to receive a suitable fastening element such as a stud12 for securing the member to the floor. The members 10 bear aconverging relationship and are connected in pairs near their lower endsby members 13 and at their upper ends by members 14.

In order to support a tire or tire casing such as the one designated 15disposed substantlally in a vertical plane for turning movement, thereare provided rollers 16, 17 and 18. The rollers are arranged so as to bedisposed circumferentially of the tire casing 15, and so that the tirecasing will rest on the roller 16 and be guided for turning movement bythe coaction of all of the rollers. The roller 16 is mounted forrotation on a shaft 19, the opposite ends of which are respectivelyjournaled in bearings 20 respectively on the members 14. Nuts 21respectively on the ends of the shaft 19 hold the shaft againstlongitudinal movement, and suitable spacers 22 on the shaft 19 serve tomaintain the roller 16 properly positioned between the bearings I 20.The roller 17 which is similar to the roller 16 is mounted for rotationbetween the upperends respectively of arms 23. This is accomplished bythe employment of a shaft 24 which extends through the roller 17 and thearms 23 and has nuts 25 respectively on the opposite ends, and spacers26 respectively between the ends of the roller 17 and the arms 23. Ashaft 27 carried by a pair of the frame members 10 extends through thearms 23. The arms 23 are therefore. mounted for. pivotal movement. Thelower ends of the arms 23.are connected together by a member 28 whichserves as an arbor for a member 29.

The member 29 is connected at one end with the member 28 and has aseries of notches 30, i

each of which is adapted to receive a portion of a member 31 connectedwith a pair of the frame members 10. The notched member 29 and themember 31 constitute a means for adjusting the rollers 17 with respectto the other rollers, to the end that tires or tire casings of differentsizes or diameters may be accommodated. It will be obvious, that byimparting upward pivotal movement to the member 29 it is possible todisengage a portion of themember 31 from any particular one of thenotches 30 and to engage said portion in any one of the other notches bylowering the member 29. The roller 18 which is similar to the rollers 16and 17 is mounted for rotation between the upper ends respectively of,arms 32. This is accom lished by the use of a shaft 33 which extens-through the roller and the arms 32, and nuts 34 respectively on theends of the shaft 33, and spacers 35.re-

spectively between the opfposite ends of the roller 18 and the ends 0the arms 32. "A shaft 36 carried by a pair of the frame membet 1 e t dthrough the arms 32. The

as grippers 40 in op arms 32 are thus mounted for pivotal movement. Thelower ends of the arms 32 are connected together by a member 37. A coilspring 38 is employed and has one end thereof 5 connected with themember 37, and the opposite end thereof is connected as at 39 with oneof the members 13. The spring 38 con stitutes a tensioningmeansandexerts ,pressure on the casing 15 through and by virtue of the arms32 and roller 18, and as a consequence the casing is kept in contactwith the roller 17. It will also be obvious that the casing 15 under itsown weight rests mainly upon the roller 16. In this way the tire cas- 15ing 15 is supported for turning movement or rotation.

In order to spread side portions of the easing 15 apart, as shown mostclearly in Fig. 3, there is provided gripping means, which, in

the present instance consists of pairs of grippers 40. Each gripper 40has an enga in portion 41 at one end and the opposite erId ispivotallyconnected as at 42 with a lever 43. The grippers 40, as statedare arranged in airs, there being two levers 43, one at the ront and oneat the back of the frame structure with each of which a pair of thegrippers is pivotally connected. Each lever 43' is fulcrumed as at 44 onthe adjacent frame :0 member 14. One ofthe levers 43 is'somewhat longerthan the other lever.

' 11 order to actuate the levers 43 to cause the relative separation ofthe grippers 40, there is provided a manually operable means as whichincludes afoot lever 45 carried by the,

frame members 13 and links 46, each of which has one end thereofconnected with one end 7 of the lever 45 and the opposite ends of thelinks '46are connected respectively with-the 40 levers 43 as at 47. Acoil spring 48 is em-.

ployed and has one end thereof connected as at 49 with oneend of thelinks 46, and the opposite end of the spring is connected as at- 50 witha member 51 connectedto a pairof the frame members 10 near their lowerends. The spring 48 has a normal tendency to bring the grippers 40toward each other to the relationship shown in full lines in Fig. 2. Atthis time the foot lever 45 will be disposed with its front end up. Thefront end of the foot lever 45 has members 52 secured thereto toaccommodate the foot of an operator, the operafor by bearing down on themembers 52 with so are in engagement with the side portlons of thecasing.

In order to releasably maintain the grippers 40 in the relationship inwhich they 7 spread the side portions of the tire casing apart, thereisprovided a means which funcopposite end thereof is adapted to coact with.vention, the scope of which is limited only tions in conjunction withthe means for actuating the grippers 40. The said means includes a pawl53 pivotally connected at one end with one of the links 46 as at 54 andthe a series of teeth 55 on a portion of the lever 45. The pawl 53carries a. pin-56. An actuator 57 is pivotally connected as at 58 withthe lever 45. The actuator 57 coacts with the pm 56 to elevate the pawl53 to disengage the same from one of the teeth 55. The pawl 53 beingpivotally connected at one end acts by gravity'to cause the engagementof the opposite end thereof with one of the teeth 55 when the foot lever45 is moved downwardly from its normal position shown in full lines inFig. 2 depending upon the distance the 'lever 45 is moved. It willtherefore be understood that when the foot lever 45 is moved to causethe relative separation of the gri pers 40 to spread the side portionsof the tire casing 15 apart, the pawl 53 will automatically engage oneof the teeth 55 and thus releasably hold the grippers 40 separated tothe desired extent. By pressing down on the end of the actuator 57adjacent the foot members 52, the pawl 53 will be elevated by virtue ofthe coaction of portions of the actuator 57 with the pin 56, and as aconsequence the spring 38. functions to pull on one of the links 46which in turn exerts apull on the lever 43 connected therewith, and onthe other link 46 and the lever 43 connected therewith causing thegrippers 40 to move toward each other to a normal position; the lever45being also moved to its normal position. When the grippers 40 haveagain assumed their normal relationship, the tire casing 15 may beturned to any desired degree,whereupon, the foot lever 45may again bedepressed to cause I a relative separating movement of the gri pers 40and the spreading apart of the si e 3 portions of the tire casing 15.The grippers 40 are alwaysin piosition ready ,for the spreading actionto and the releasing of the side portions of the tire casing.

In order to light up the interior of the tire casing there is providedan electric lamp 59 which is electrically connected with a fixture 60carried by a bracketfilsecured to the rear frame member'14. The fixture60 in cludes a reflector 62 to reflect the light ra 9- into the interiorof the casing 15 as will be understood. v

It is to be understood that the inventionis not restricted to theprecise arrangement of parts shown and described, as'details ofconstruction may be modified and rearranged without departing from thespirit of the inby the terms of the appended claims. f I claim; 1. Adevicelof the character described comprising an upright support, armspivotally connected respectively with'portions of said support, anarrangement of rollers, one roller being on said support and one rolleron each of said arms, means acting in conjunction with said arms forchanging the relative disposition of said rollers, said means consistingof a spring connected between one of said arms and said support, and alatch for holding the other arm in difierent adjusted position.

2. A device for inspecting an outer tire casing comprising an uprightsupport, arms pivotally connected respectively with ortions of saidsupport, an arrangement 0 rollers for supporting the tire casing forrotatory movement, one roller being on said support and one roller oneach of said arms, means acting in conjunction with said arms forchanging the relative disposition of said rollers, said means consistingof a spring connected between one of said arms and said support, and alatch for holding the other arm in different adjusted positions; andmeans for spreading apart the sides of the tire casing from a normalrelationship.

MAURICE TEICH.

